Variable intake valve closing using through axle rocker arm

Abstract

A method of using a through axle switching rocker arm according to one example of the present disclosure is provided. The switching rocker arm comprises an outer and inner arm and a roller axle. The inner arm is pivotally coupled to the outer arm about a pivot axle and has an inner bushing that supports an inner roller. The inner bushing defines an inner diameter. The roller axle extends through the inner bushing and defines an outer diameter. The inner diameter of the inner bushing engages the outer diameter of the roller axle thereby inhibiting further pivoting of the inner arm relative to the outer arm defining a rocker arm travel constraint. The method includes designing first and second cam profiles based on the through axle switching rocker arm such that a difference in lift between the first and second cam profiles is held within the rocker arm travel constraint.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of using a through axle switching rocker arm comprising an outer arm, an inner arm and a roller axle, the inner arm pivotally coupled to the outer arm about a pivot axle and having an inner bushing that supports an inner roller, the inner bushing defining an inner diameter, the roller axle extending through the outer arm and supporting a pair of outer rollers, the roller axle extending through the inner bushing and defining an outer diameter, wherein the inner diameter of the inner bushing engages the outer diameter of the roller axle thereby inhibiting further pivoting of the inner arm relative to the outer arm defining a rocker arm travel constraint, the method comprising:
 operating the through axle switching rocker arm in selective operation in (i) a first arrangement with a first cam having a first cam profile that implements an early intake valve closing (EIVC) valve actuation strategy and in (ii) a second arrangement with a second cam having a second cam profile that implements a late intake valve closing (LIVC) valve actuation strategy. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the first cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape and the second cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape and having a closing tail portion that increases a duration of valve lift. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the first cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape and the second cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape and having an opening lead portion that increases a duration of valve lift. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the first cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape and the second cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape and having both of an opening lead portion and a closing tail portion that both increase a duration of a valve lift. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 forming the first and second cam profiles such that a difference in lift between the first and second cam profiles is held within the rocker arm travel constraint. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein forming the first and second cam profiles comprises forming the first cam having an early intake valve closing profile and the second cam having a high power intake profile. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5  wherein forming the first and second cam profiles comprises forming the first cam having an early intake valve closing profile and the second cam having a late intake closing profile. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein the second cam includes one of a normal intake profile and a high power intake closing profile. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 configuring the switching rocker arm for selective and alternative operation (i) on a first valve having a first short duration close angle and a first long duration close angle; and configuring a second switching rocker arm for selective and alternative operation (ii) on a second valve having a second short duration close angle and a second long duration close angle. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing the through axle switching rocker arm wherein the inner diameter of the inner bushing is greater than the outer diameter of the roller axle. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the inner diameter of the inner bushing and the outer diameter of the roller axle have a difference of 2.4 mm. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  wherein the inner diameter of the inner bushing and the outer diameter of the roller axle have a difference of 3 mm. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing a latch pin that moves between (i) a latched position wherein the outer and inner arms rotate together about the pivot axle; and (ii) an unlatched position wherein the inner arm pivots relative to the outer arm about the pivot axle. 
     
     
       14. A method of designing a through axle switching rocker arm comprising an outer arm, an inner arm and a roller axle, the inner arm pivotally coupled to the outer arm about a pivot axle and having an inner bushing that supports an inner roller, the inner bushing defining an inner diameter, the roller axle extending through the outer arm and supporting a pair of outer rollers, the roller axle extending through the inner bushing and defining an outer diameter, wherein the inner diameter of the inner bushing engages the outer diameter of the roller axle thereby inhibiting further pivoting of the inner arm relative to the outer arm defining a rocker arm travel constraint, the method comprising:
 designing first and second cam profiles based on the through axle switching rocker arm such that a difference in lift between the first and second cam profiles is held within the rocker arm travel constraint whereby the first cam profile defines an early intake valve closing profile, and the second cam profile defines a late intake closing profile; and 
 operating the through axle switching rocker arm for selective and alternative operation in (i) a first arrangement with a first cam having the first cam profile that implements an early intake valve closing (EIVC) valve actuation strategy and in (ii) a second arrangement with a second cam having the second cam profile that implements a late intake valve closing (LIVC) valve actuation strategy. 
 
     
     
       15. A method of designing a through axle switching rocker arm comprising an outer arm, an inner arm and a roller axle, the inner arm pivotally coupled to the outer arm about a pivot axle and having an inner bushing that supports an inner roller, the inner bushing defining an inner diameter, the roller axle extending through the outer arm and supporting a pair of outer rollers, the roller axle extending through the inner bushing and defining an outer diameter, wherein the inner diameter of the inner bushing engages the outer diameter of the roller axle thereby inhibiting further pivoting of the inner arm relative to the outer arm defining a rocker arm travel constraint, the method comprising:
 designing first and second cam profiles based on the through axle switching rocker arm such that a difference in lift between the first and second cam profiles is held within the rocker arm travel constraint, wherein the first cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape and the second cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape and having an opening lead portion that increase a duration of a valve lift; and 
 operating the through axle switching rocker arm for selective and alternative operation in (i) a first arrangement with a first cam having the first cam profile that implements an early intake valve closing (EIVC) valve actuation strategy and in (ii) a second arrangement with the second cam having a second cam profile that implements a late intake valve closing (LIVC) valve actuation strategy.